SPORTS SOCCER SHORTS

Agencies

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 - Page 19

RUSSIA

Roberto Carlos goes Russian

Former Brazil full-back Roberto Carlos has joined Russia’s Anzhi Makhachkala on a two-and-a-half year deal, the club said on Wednesday. Roberto Carlos, who helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup and played more than 100 times for his country, ended his contract with Brazilian club Corinthians by mutual agreement on Saturday. The 37-year-old former Real Madrid defender was targeted by fans during violent protests against the team following their shock early exit from the Libertadores Cup this month.

ENGLAND

Bolton earn FA Cup victory

Ivan Klasnic scored the second-half winner on Wednesday as Bolton beat Wigan 1-0 away in an FA Cup fourth-round replay to set up a match against Fulham. The Croatia striker slid home a finish in the 66th minute after latching on to a pass by midfielder Mark Davies to settle a hard-fought northwest derby at the DW Stadium. Bolton striker Johan Elmander hit the post and had a goal disallowed, while the closest Wigan came to an equalizer was when Jordi Gomez shot just over. Bolton will travel to Fulham in the fifth round tomorrow.

GERMANY

St Pauli win Hamburg derby

St Pauli prevailed 1-0 at the home of their bitter city rivals Hamburg in their delayed Bundesliga match on Wednesday evening. Former Germany international Gerald Asamoah claimed the only goal of the game in the 59th minute in front of 57,500 fans at Hamburg’s Imtech Arena. The result lifts St Pauli up to 11th place in the league standings, five points above the relegation play-off berth and five points behind seventh-placed Hamburg. It was only Hamburg’s third home defeat of the league season. The match was originally due to be played on Wednesday last week but was postponed due to heavy downpours that left the pitch unplayable.

ENGLAND

Player enjoys school break

Liverpool’s 16-year-old striker Raheem Sterling was spending part of his school holidays travelling to Prague with the first-team squad for their Europa League clash with Sparta yesterday. Youth team forward Sterling, who is on a half-term break this week, scored five goals for the Reds’ under-18 side in their 9-0 win over Southend United at Anfield on Monday. He could become the Merseyside club’s youngest first team player if he featured in the first leg of the last 32 clash at the Stadion Letna. Aged 16 years and 71 days, the Jamaica-born England youth international would break the record set last May by under-18 team mate Jack Robinson if he played.

ITALY

Inter, Genoa claim wins

Inter returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win away to Fiorentina on Wednesday. Giampaolo Pazzini scored a second-half winner against his former club after Fiorentina defender Manuel Pasqual canceled out Michele Camporese’s own goal. The result means Inter have now played the same number of games as league leader AC Milan, and trail by five points. “It was important to get the three points to get us back on course after losing to Juventus,” Inter assistant coach Giuseppe Baresi said. “We have just met one of the most in-form teams in the league and played well.” Also on Wednesday, Genoa beat cross-town rival Sampdoria 1-0 after Rafinha hit a spectacular winner early in the second half.